Method for using a home plate tape measure

ABSTRACT

A pitching assistance device resembles a home plate with a coiled measuring element stored therein. The measuring element may be selectively extended from the home plate structure to measure off a predefined distance, such as the regulation distance between a pitching mound and a home plate. Once measured, the distance may then be used by a pitcher for warming up or the creation of an improvised bullpen.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device to assist pitchers in warmingup before a game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Across America the spring and summer months bring a flurry of activityon baseball and softball fields. From Little League™ teams, to highschool teams, to recreational summer leagues, people of all ages hit thefields for a bit of sport and relaxation. While the professional fieldsand many college fields have real bullpens, most high school andrecreational fields do not have any sort of dedicated area which apitcher can use to warm up before entering the game.

Further complicating matters for pitchers is the need to positionthemselves a requisite distance from a device symbolizing a home plateso that they warm up using the distance that they will be required tothrow the ball during the game. While some recreational leagues are moresocial than competitive, this lack of a bullpen is disruptive forcompetitive Little League™, middle school, high school, and collegeteams.

Several devices have been proposed for laying out a ball field, butthese devices are typically cumbersome and too complex for the creationof a temporary bullpen. Exemplary devices of this sort are illustratedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,160,324; 4,978,121; 5,556,090; and 5,803,841.

As another alternative, coaches or pitchers may bring a measuring tapewith them to the game so that they can measure out an impromptu bullpen.Because of the distances involved between a typical pitching mound andthe home plate, these measuring devices are usually purchased from thesame sort that surveyors, real estate agents, and the like use formeasuring yards, buildings and the like. While such measuring tapes areadequate for many purposes, there is still a need for a device thatsimply and efficiently allows the creation of an impromptu bullpen sothat pitchers may warm up using a proper mimicry of a pitching mound tohome plate distance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the need in the baseball/softballcommunity for an impromptu bullpen by combining a home plate structurewith a tape measure. The tape measure is preferably coiled within thehome plate structure and selectively extended therefrom as needed tomark out a bullpen pitching area.

The home plate structure may be a regulation size home plate, havingsufficient thickness to house the tape measure. In an exemplaryembodiment, the home plate structure is made from a durable plasticmaterial, such as through a blow molding process.

The measuring tape may have several embodiments, which are notnecessarily mutually exclusive. The measuring tape may have severaldistances indicated thereon, so as to be useful for Little League™teams, softball teams, high school baseball teams, and college teams,each of which has a different distance from the pitching mound to thehome plate. The measuring tape may further be made from a number ofdifferent materials such as a weed cutting line, a cloth tape measure, asemi-rigid metallic measuring line, or the like.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the presentinvention and realize additional aspects thereof after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments inassociation with the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming a part ofthis specification illustrate several aspects of the invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of the home plate structure of anexemplary embodiment of the present invention with the tape measureextended;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded bottom perspective view of the home platestructure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates an inner surface of a winding mechanism for thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a winding mechanism;

FIG. 5 illustrates a partial view of the tape measure according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention with multiple distancesindicated; and

FIG. 6 illustrates in a flow chart format the methodology of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and illustratethe best mode of practicing the invention. Upon reading the followingdescription in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilledin the art will understand the concepts of the invention and willrecognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressedherein. It should be understood that these concepts and applicationsfall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims.

The present invention provides a readily portable, easy to use temporarybullpen device for assisting pitchers during warm ups in locations wherea predefined bullpen is not available. It is also well suited for randompitching practice where a ball field or bullpen is not readilyavailable. To this end, an exemplary embodiment of the present inventionis illustrated in the accompanying figures. A pitching assistance device10 is generally illustrated from a top plan view in FIG. 1. The pitchingassistance device 10 comprises a pentagon shaped housing 12, which isshaped to mimic a home plate structure. The rules of Major LeagueBaseball indicate that home plate should be a seventeen inch square withtwo corners cut off to form a pentagon such that there is a seventeeninch side, two adjacent eight and one half inch sides, and two twelveinch sides that come together to form a point. There does not appear tobe an official thickness associated with home plate, but the presentinvention is designed to mimic the top plan surface of an official homeplate, without regard to an official thickness. The pentagon shapedhousing 12 includes an axle 14 and a linear edge 16. The linear edge 16delimits an aperture 18 through which a measuring element 20 may beselectively extended. The presence of the measuring element 20 may causethe thickness of the pentagon shaped housing 12 to differ from that ofan official home plate.

As better illustrated in FIG. 2, the pentagon shaped housing 12 mayfurther define a recess 22 surrounding the axle 14, which may be snapfit with a winding mechanism 24. The winding mechanism 24 cooperateswith the axle 14 to house the measuring element 20 therebetween andselectively coil and uncoil the measuring element 20 for use. In anexemplary embodiment, the measuring element 20 is wound about a spool 26which includes a slot 28 that interacts with a protuberance 30 (FIG. 3)positioned on the winding mechanism 24. The protuberance 30 fits withinthe slot 28, and as the winding mechanism 24 is rotated about the axle14, the protuberance 30 causes the spool 26 to rotate concurrently. Thismotion wraps or unwraps the measuring element 20 as is well understood.It should be appreciated that the protuberance 30 could be positioned onthe spool 26 and the slot 28 could be positioned on the windingmechanism 24 if needed or desired.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the winding mechanism 24 also includesa finger divot 32 or recess which allows a user to insert a finger orother elongate object to facilitate turning of the winding mechanism 24.

In an exemplary embodiment, the pentagon shaped housing 12, the windingmechanism 24 and/or the spool 26 may be made from a durable materialsuch as plastic, and, in a preferred embodiment, one or more of theseelements is made from a blow molding process from recycled materials. Aspreviously noted, the winding mechanism 24 may be snap fit into therecess 22. Other materials and/or manufacturing techniques may be used;however, the preferred embodiment reflects a good compromise betweendurability, weight, and manufacturing economics.

Note further that aperture 18 may be a slot (illustrated in FIG. 2) suchthat the measuring element 20 is exposed for a portion of the lowersurface of the pentagon shaped housing 12. Alternatively, that slot maybe enclosed such that the measuring element 20 is enclosed exceptthrough aperture 18.

While a relatively simple winding mechanism 24 is illustrated in FIGS.1-3, other winding mechanisms may also be used. For example, a springloaded winding mechanism akin to those found in conventional tapemeasures that are selectively actuated to retract the measuring element20 may be used, effectively eliminating the need for manual winding ofthe measuring element 20. Alternatively, a swing arm 34 as illustratedin FIG. 4 may be incorporated into the winding mechanism 24 andselectively extended around a hinge 36. A rotatable knob 38 may assistin use of the swing arm 34. When closed, the knob 38 may fit within arecess 40 within a cavity 42 that holds the swing arm 34 when not inuse. In this manner, the swing arm 34 is flush within the cavity 42 whennot in use, but is selectively extendable such that the knob 38 andswing arm 34 may be used to assist in winding the measuring element 20when needed.

The measuring element 20 is illustrated in fragmented form in FIG. 5,wherein marking indicia 44 are incorporated into the measuring element20 to indicate certain predefined distances. In one embodiment, only oneindicium 44 is used to denote a single predefined distance. For example,a distance of forty-six feet may be used to denote the defined distancebetween pitching mound and home plate for Little Leagues™.Alternatively, sixty feet, six inches may be marked to denote MajorLeague Baseball or the like. Other distances may also be used if neededor desired. In a more preferred embodiment, multiple predefineddistances may be denoted by indicia 44 thereby making the pitchingassistance device 10 suitable for use in multiple environments. Acomprehensive list of distances to include on the measuring element isdifficult, especially since official distances sometimes change fromyear to year. However, an exemplary, non-exhaustive list of leagues thatmay be covered include, but is not limited to: Little League™ (bothbaseball and softball), Amateur Softball Association (ASA), AmateurAthletic Union (AAU) (both baseball and softball), National SoftballAssociation, United States Specialty Sports Association (both baseballand softball), National Federation of State High School Association(both baseball and softball), National Collegiate Athletics Association(NCAA, both baseball and softball), Pony League (both baseball andsoftball), Cal Ripkin League, Babe Ruth League (baseball and softball),International Softball Federation, American Legion, and the like. Theseleagues and their various levels of play could all be denoted on themeasuring element 20 with the indicia 44.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the measuring element 20 is illustrated torepresent a flat, cloth or synthetic measuring tape as is sometimes usedin a surveyor's measuring tape. Alternate embodiments allow fordifferent sorts of measuring elements such as a round nylon weedtrimming line, a flat semi-rigid metallic measuring line, a chain, astring, or the like. Indicia 44 may, in these alternate embodiments, bea legible marking with alphanumeric characters used to denote distancesor may be knots or the like as needed or desired. In still anotherembodiment, color coded dots or markings could be used in conjunctionwith any of the different embodiments of measuring element 20, and thecolor code may be duplicated with a translation table on the pentagonshaped housing 12 for ease of reference. In the event that the indicia44 represent a more conventional tape measure with inches and feetdenoted thereon, a chart indicating the appropriate distances for eachclass of ball field may be printed on the pentagon shaped housing 12.Nothing precludes multiple embodiments of the indicia 44 from being usedconcurrently.

Against the backdrop of equipment, a brief explanation of how thepitching assistance device 10 may be used may be helpful in explicatingthe present invention. A user purchases the present invention (block100) through conventional channels such as a sporting good store, theInternet, or the like. The pitching assistance device 10 may be packedwith other sporting paraphernalia for travel to a ballpark or otherrecreational vehicle (block 102). Upon reaching a situation where apitcher needs or wants to practice pitching or warm up, the pitchingassistance device 10 may be retrieved (block 104). The pentagon shapedhousing 12 is positioned in a first location (block 106) and themeasuring element 20 extended therefrom (block 108). The measuringelement 20 is extended to the distance corresponding to the particularleague in which the pitching is desired. Once extended, the user maymark the position and/or leave the measuring element 20 extended andbegin pitching (block 110). In this manner, the pitcher is assured thatthey are throwing the ball the desired distance, even when there is nota predefined bullpen.

After completion of the warm up or practice session, the pitchingassistance device 10 is retrieved, such as by picking up the device 10(block 112) and the measuring element 20 is wound back into the device(block 114) such as by rotation of the winding mechanism 24. Thepitching assistance device 10 may be placed back in a gym bag or thelike until the next desired usage. As is readily apparent, the pitchingassistance device 10 is readily portable and easily able to be set up inalmost any location so that a pitcher may practice or warm up. Use ofthe device is not limited to improvised bullpens, but may also be usedin a home or other recreational environment where people desire to knowthat they are throwing the ball a predefined distance, such as the onecorresponding to the distance between a pitching mound and a home plate.Note that the methodology of FIG. 6 is purely exemplary and that othersequences of events may also occur in the normal use of the pitchingassistance device 10.

Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modificationsto the preferred embodiments of the present invention. All suchimprovements and modifications are considered within the scope of theconcepts disclosed herein and the claims that follow.

1-11. (canceled)
 12. A method of using a pitching assistance device,comprising: placing the pitching assistance device on the ground suchthat it represents and functions as a home plate; extending a measuringelement from the home plate a predefined distance as indicated byindicia on the measuring element; and denoting a pitching mound based onthe indicia of the measuring element.
 13. The method of claim 12,further comprising using the home plate and pitching mound as animpromptu bullpen.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein extending themeasuring element from the home plate comprises extending the measuringelement to one of a plurality of predefined distances, each of which isrepresented by different indicia.
 15. The method of claim 12, whereinextending the measuring element comprises uncoiling the measuringelement from a spool.
 16. The method of claim 12, further comprisingretracting the measuring element.
 17. The method of claim 16, whereinretracting the measuring element comprises coiling the measuring elementabout a spool. 18-20. (canceled)
 21. A method of using a pitchingassistance device comprising: placing the pitching assisting device onthe ground such that it represents a home plate and functions as thesame, wherein the pitching assistance device comprises: a pentagonshaped housing conforming to dimensions of a home plate according tostandard play regulations; a measuring element positioned within saidpentagon shaped housing; a winding mechanism associated with saidpentagon shaped housing; an axle positioned within said pentagon shapedhousing; and a spool, said measuring element wound about said spool,said spool rotating about said axle, and wherein said winding mechanismand said spool collectively comprise a protuberance and slot such thatwhen said winding mechanism is rotated said spool rotates concurrently;extending the measuring element from the home plate a predefineddistance as indicated by indicia on the measuring element; and denotinga pitching mound based on the indicia of the measuring element.
 22. Themethod of claim 21, further comprising using the home plate and pitchingmound as an impromptu bullpen.
 23. The method of claim 21, whereinextending the measuring element from the home plate comprises extendingthe measuring element to one of a plurality of predefined distances,each of which is represented by a different indicia.
 24. The method ofclaim 21, further comprising retracting the measuring element with thewinding mechanism.
 25. The method of claim 21, further comprising usinga finger divot to assist in operation of the winding mechanism.
 26. Themethod of claim 21, further comprising snap fitting said windingmechanism within a recess of the pentagon shaped housing.
 27. The methodof claim 21 further comprising forming the pentagon shaped housing froma blow molded plastic material.
 28. The method of claim 21, whereinextending the measuring device comprises extending a measuring deviceselected from the group consisting of: a weed trimming line, a tapemeasure, a chain, a string, and a flat semi-rigid metallic measuringline.
 29. The method of claim 21 further comprising forming the pentagonshaped housing with a linear edge delimiting an aperture through whichthe measuring element is extended.
 30. A method of making a pitchingassistance device, the method comprising: forming a pentagon shapedhousing conforming to dimensions of a home plate and capable of beingused as a home plate; forming a means for winding a measuring elementwithin the pentagon shaped housing; and forming an aperture on a linearedge of the pentagon shaped housing through which the measuring elementmay be selectively extended.
 31. The method of claim 30 wherein formingthe pentagon shaped housing comprises forming the pentagon shapedhousing from a blow molded plastic material.
 32. The method of claim 30wherein forming a means for winding a measuring element within thepentagon shaped housing comprises snap fitting a winding mechanism intoa bottom side of the pentagon shaped housing.